F rd dealers to get t lloomme computer
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FO OPERATORS will benefit from the introduction by the co y of a talking computer system which will speed parts o s ng by dealers.
B the end of November, 550 special VOR computer terminals will have been installed in dealers' parts departments. Dealership staff will then be able to dial directly into the Daventry parts co • uter's memory banks using small desk-top terminals and sp iial Post Office phone links.
Tie computer, code named DO S (Direct Order Entry Sys em) will completely repl ce existing VOR ordering met ods of Ansaphone, telex and onventional phone.
O ce the computer is called up y a parts department rec ptionist and the security cod• is cleared, the operator can continue to key in inqui 'es about the availability fro stock of parts urgently needed by customers.
The computer's voice — which consists of answers recorded by an actress chosen for the perfect pitch of her voice — responds almost immediately with details of any change in the part number that may have taken place. It will also give automatically confirmation of availability from the depot's stores and the latest price of the part The new system has been developed jointly by Ford Systems engineers and Menzies Communications Systems. It has taken two years to develop and involved an investment approaching £250,000.
"The instant availability of accurate information will en' able us to provide our dealers and their customers with an even better parts service than before," says David Carter, Ford's general manager for parts sales. "For the first time, our dealers will be able to confirm to a customer whether urgently required parts are in stock at Daventry. And they can place a VOR order knowing that the parts will be shipped within 24 hours.
When the DOES computer is "on-line", it will check that dealers do not omit vital ordering details which could otherwise lose up to three • days.
Ford claims this talking computer is the most advanced yet installed by any vehicle manufacturer in Britain. And the Daventry centre is the largest in Europe, housing over 85,000 different parts. Customers' orders are received from dealers at the rate of over 5000 parts an hour. The most urgent are requested as VOR priority orders.